Richard Luscombe SSE FA Cup Third Qualifying Round
Poole Town 2-5 Plymouth Argyle
ARGYLE came through a tough encounter in Dorset before seeing off a resilient Poole Town outfit in the FA Cup.
Manager Travis Rowland included Dani Salt and Tamsin Medd-Gill from the Development squad due to the loss of Ebony Dover, who is having an operation, Becky Atkins, Phoebe Baker and Tori Marks. Rowland impressed upon the girls the need to start with intensity which they did and it was no surprise when Natasha Knapman gave them a 22nd minute lead by beating the goalkeeper in a one-on-one situation after being put through by Zoe Cunningham.
Argyle then started to get sloppy at the back and former Yeovil Town striker Jemma Tewkesbury to draw the teams level. Argyle did have a chance to regain the lead but Knapman’s header hit the crossbar.
The Pilgrims came out for the second half in a much better shape but were caught napping when mis-communication between defender Jessie Boston and Faye Rolfe-Hawkins led to the ball looping over goalkeeper Michaela Phillips and into the net.
Poole’s celebrations were cut short almost immediately, as Argyle went up the other end for Cunningham to fire in a stunning drive into the top corner of the net. Argyle then assumed total control as they bombarded the home goal.
We took the lead when in the 66th minute good work between Cunningham and Becky Dandridge ended with the ball ricocheting to the alert Knapman, who made no mistake. Kayley Lane won a crunching tackle in the 82nd minute to play in Knapman to coolly lob the goalkeeper and complete her hat trick.
Rowland had rung the changes with Salt replacing Boston and Medd-Gill for her debut coming on for Ezme Wells. The exhausted Knapman, who had been under the weather all week, was replaced by Kayleigh Bown. Credit must go to the Poole goalkeeper who pulled off some superb saves but she couldn’t stop Cunningham from putting the game to bed with a last-minute strike.
“The whole team did really well and it was good to see that even at the end of a difficult match they were sprinting to their positions,” said Rowland. “I couldn’t fault the defence as they all did the right things at the right times. Lane, Cunningham and Dandridge were immense in midfield and I felt this was where we won the game.
“It was also good to see Tamsin (Medd-Gill) coming on for her senior debut and she ran the channels well. Dani (Salt) came on and showed what a good player she is.”
Argyle squad: Micheala Phillips, Darcy Hepworth, Kate Middleton, Kayley Lane, Ezme Wells (Tamsin Medd-Gill), Becky Dandridge, Amber Pollock, Natasha Knapman (Kayleigh Brown), Zoe Cunningham, Jessie Boston (Dani Salt), Mollie Taylor
Goals: Natasha Knapman 3, Zoe Cunningham 2
South West League
Western Division
Plymouth Argyle Development 5-0 Newquay Celtic
A MUCH-CHANGED Argyle team proved too good for their Cornish opponents in a game where it took the home side a good half an hour to get into the game. Despite losing Dani Salt and Tamsin Medd-Gill to the first team and with Clare Ostle, Rachel Javan and Abbi Scurr unavailable, Manager Rob Bonney showed the strength of talent at the club by giving teenager Charlotte Whitmore and recently signed Kelly Vinnicombe their debuts, and they didn’t disappoint.
The experienced Newquay team attempted to nullify Argyle by playing five across the middle, as well as pressing Argyles defence. Gabi Alphous had an early chance and Alex Hugh had a good shot pushed around a post with Alphous then heading over a Vinnicombe corner before the pacey striker had a run and shot superbly saved by goalkeeper Lydia Gard.
Once Argyle got Lucy Solloway into the action down the right wing, a goal had to come. Strangely enough, it came from a short corner on the half-hour mark, which was played to Alex Hugh by Vinnicombe who caught out the Newquay defence when her fierce drive flew into the net.
Three minutes later, Solloway’s run and cross was met by the onrushing Faye Ivall who made no mistake. Hugh then set up Alphous who blasted the ball over the bar with Whitmore being denied by another Gard save.
A goal was on the cards and it duly came in the 37th minute when Sollaway’s cross could only be palmed into the air by Gard to drop to Vinnicombe who coolly controlled it with her thigh before volleying home for her debut goal. Argyle were now playing quality football and Alphous was twice denied by Gard, the second being a superb save. Argyle changed goalkeepers at half time with Sarah Prior coming on for young Neave Gosling.
Argyle made the game safe four minutes into the second half when Solloway put through Whitmore who provided a clinical finish for her debut goal. Solloway was running riot down the right wing and another superb cross was headed in by Alphous from two yards.
Manager Rob Bonney said: “It is another win against an experienced Newquay. We had to make a number of changes today and it showed in periods of the game. We played well in spells and equally not so good in others. We are nowhere near the finished article but we will continue to work hard to improve.”
Argyle squad: Neave Gosling, Cath Davis, Charlie Rollerson, Becky Parkyn, Emily Baker, Faye Ivall, Alex Hugh, Lucy Solloway, Charlotte Whitmore, Kelly Vinnicombe, Gabi Alphous, Sarah Prior, Summer Taylor, Shania Fenlon, Amarnie Crabtree.
Goals: Alex Hugh, Faye Ivall, Kelly Vinnicombe, Charlotte Whitmore, Gabi Alphous.
